Art-Test

Vedere l’invisibile: Alla ricerca dei segreti

delle opere d’arte

Art-Test provides optical non invasive art diagnostic services Our portfolio ranges from professional technical examinations to data presentation, workshops and trainings.

Art-Test device portfolio consists of some of the most advanced systems developed for art diagnostic purposes. Moreover our devices are mostly not commercially available but custom designed.

Let us introduce ourselves:

Art & Science• Main objectives:

– Exact reproduction of an artworkFor paintings:

- Image- Shape

– Knowledge of the process and materialused, and of their state of conservation

– Development of new materials for use in conservation treatments

•an actuated planar VIS-IR scannerfor high resolution reflectography,

•digital multispectral scientific cooled camera systems for the visible and in the infrared range,

•an exclusive system for the acquisition of UV fluorescence,

•a vidicon IR camera,

•a thermal camera.

We also offer the possibility of realizing 3D3D acquisitions and modelling of any art work including paintings, monuments and archeological sites, thermoluminescence analysesthermoluminescence analyses, micro-sampling and chemical, porosity, petrographic and gravimetric analyses on samples.

Art-Test device portfolio consists of:

Integrating 3D data with 2D dataIntegrating 3D data with 2D data

• Improves interpretation of each analysis’ results

• Provides a reliable way to documentany conservation phase with:

– Cross analysis of data from different techniques

– Quantitative measurement of restorations effects

• Allows creation of archives and databases for restorers and art historians

• Facilitates virtual restoration

• Permits better visualization

• We have been working on:• We have been working on:

• Raphael: Madonna of the Goldfinch (Florence)• Raphael: Deposition (Rome)• Leonardo da Vinci: Madonna of the Yarnwinder (private collection)• Agnolo Bronzino: Resurrection (Besançon)• Agnolo Bronzino: Saint John the Baptist (Rome)• Agnolo Bronzino: Discesa agli Inferi (Florence)• Andrea Mantegna: Madonna in glory (Milan)• Pisanello: Portrait of Lionello d'Este (Bergamo)• Rosso Fiorentino: Pala Dei (Florence)• Donatello: Crucifix (Florence)• Lorenzo Monaco: Virgin’s coronation (Florence)

• We have been working on:• We have been working on:

• Michelangelo: David (Florence)• Gianbologna: Ratto delle Sabine (Florence)• Metsys: Portrait of Erasmo (Roma)• Mausoleo di Teodorico (Ravenna)• Ignazio Danti: Globe (Florence)

• Simone Martini: Polyptych of Saint Catherine (Pisa)• Lippo Memmi: Cuspide di polittico (Pisa)• Agnolo Bronzino: Portrait of Giannettino Doria (Genova)• Raphael: Deposition, predella (Roma)• Benvenuto Tisio called Il Garofalo: Sybil and Ottaviano (Roma)• Luca Cambiaso: Resurrection (Taggia)

Last works realized:Last works realized:

• Caravaggio: Saint Jerome (Malta) • Presso la Necropoli Vaticana: disegni su parete.

• Some of our customers• Some of our customers

Old VarnishPainted layer

Preparatory layerWooden, canvas or paper support Cracks

New Varnish

Inpaintings

Diagnostics by imagingTypical painting structure - Multilayer with different components

Old VarnishPainted layer

Preparatory layerWooden, canvas or paper support Cracks

New Varnish

Inpaintings

Diagnostics by imagingDepending on the radiation range used, there areseveral possibilities for 2D diagnostics

UVUV VVIISS IRIR XraysXrays

IR reflectography

There is not such a thing like A reflectographic tecnique:The result depends very much on the the device used!!!!

Non invasive optical technique based on the partial transparency of most pigments and binding media to near IR radiation.It allows to image:

• Underdrawing and “pentimenti”.• Impaintings and retouchings.• Re-use of support.• Damages, losses and restorations of the support and of the preparation layer.

IRIR

IR reflectography Art-Test has a number of devices:

• Vis-IR Scanner (high res, large band).•Vidicon Tube(large band).•CCD scientific cooled Camera (multispectral acqusition).• digitalFotocamera (preliminary investigations).

IRIR

IR imaging - comparison

IR Scanner

Vidicon

High-definitionCCD camera

IRIR

Scanner Vis.IR

NO PROBLEMS WITH:• image image mosaikingmosaiking..•• Uneven illumination effectsUneven illumination effects..•• Geometrical distortionsGeometrical distortions..•• raise of temperature due to fixed raise of temperature due to fixed illuminantsilluminants.

Vis-Ir scannerBronzinoRitratto di Giannettino Doria, Palazzo del Principe (GE)

Vis-Ir scanner

Bronzino, Ritratto di GiannettinoPalazzo del Principe (GE)

IR multispectral reflectography

800 nm 950 nm

Multispectral imaging example

Vis-Ir Scanner

Multispettrale1050 nm

Multispettrale950 nm

Vis-Ir Scanner

Multispettrale950 nm

Vis-Ir Scanner

Induced fluorescence images

8 b/w acquisitions in adjacent wavebands,

instead of 3 bands only:

– Fluorescence spectra profiling

– Higher color fidelity

– Color coordinates computation

– very clearly detectable which are the original ones and which the materials laid on the painting at a later stage UVUV

Risultati sperimentali

Emissione per fluorescenza nella banda a 600 nm

Emissione per fluorescenza nella banda a 450 nm

Immagine del dipinto in luce UV nella banda a 400 nm

Immagine ricomposta RGB della emissione per fluorescenza del dipinto

Risultati sperimentali

Identificazione di pigmenti utilizzando lo spettro approssimato dell’emissione per fluorescenza nelle diverse bande acquisite

Risultati sperimentaliIdentificazione di pigmenti

utilizzando lo spettro approssimato di riflessione soltanto (ds) e di riflessione

e dell’emissione per fluorescenza nelle diverse

bande acquisite (sin)

oil OIL

TEMPERA

TEMPERA

OIL

Vis-Ir scannerAnonimo, da CaravaggioSan Girolamo, Collezione Privata

Vis-Ir scannerAnonimo, da CaravaggioSan Girolamo, Collezione Privata

Vis-Ir Scanner

Vis-Ir Scanner

Vis-Ir Scanner

TecnologiaTecnologia per la per la DiagnosticaDiagnostica d'Arted'Arte

Vis-Ir Scanner

Vis-Ir Scanner

UV fluorescence Image

Multilayer

Applicazione multilayerVisibile strato 8

dettaglio volto: • A) RGB

visibile,• B) RGB

fluorescenza, • C) primo

strato, • D) ultimo

strato

dettaglio busto: • A) RGB

visibile,• B) RGB

fluorescenza, • C) primo

strato, • D) ultimo

strato

La legislazione

Ad oggi la legislazione che tutela i Beni Culturali non prevede l'obbligatorietà di indagini diagnostiche, che restano a discrezione del responsabile della Soprintendenza competente.